RAMANATHAPURAM
The carcass of a finless porpoise, one of the seven porpoise species protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, was found washed ashore at Mukuntharayar Chathiram in Dhanushkodi on Friday.
On being alerted by Anti-Poaching Watchers, Mandapam Forest Range Officer S. Sathish examined the carcass of the adult female finless porpoise, weighing about 180 kg. After a post-mortem, the carcass was buried on the shore, he said.
Mr. Sathish said the porpoise, which generally lived in shallow waters, could have died four days ago after hitting the propeller of a fishing vessel. It measured 232 cm in length and 152 cm in circumference. It had sustained injuries in the tail portion, he added.